Page 29 of Found By You

Does he have any idea what he’s doing to me when he looks at me like this? Like I’m the only woman in the room.

As if I wasn’t already riled up seeing him in those snug jeans and cowboy boots. He had to put on a charcoal grey T-shirt a size too small stretched tight over his broad chest and thick biceps while showing off a tattoo I didn’t know he had on his left forearm.

I bite my lip with a smile, slapping my hand in his. He chuckles. I slide off the high stool and Duke leads us out onto the dance floor. It’s a more upbeat country song. A lot of swaying, spinning, real dancing—not just bumping and grinding.

I giggle as he twirls me around, then brings me in tight against his solid frame. With a firm hand on my lower back, he holds my hand with the other, my free hand resting on his bicep. Our eyes stay locked as we dance. And I have to admit, he’s pretty good.

His hand trails to my hip, a bit more pressure behind his grip as he holds me close. My breath hitches. I want to kiss that smug look right off his face. Because he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

The song ends, changing to a slower ballad with more of a grind to it. No doubt to keep the couples on the dance floor. When I move to step away, Duke swiftly spins me into a dip before spinning me against his chest. I laugh, throwing my arms up and around his thick neck. “Smooth.”

He chuckles. “I try.”

We dance slower, grinding, and swaying. And it’s…nice. Being this close to him. Being able to smell his cologne on my clothes. Feel his touch on my skin. When he dips his head into the crook of my neck I nearly melt. Yes.

Maybe I could let my car breaking down decide where I call home…

They call it fate, right?

Everyone finds their way to the table a few songs later. Jokes and stories are thrown about freely. Laughter and cheers float around me. Duke’s arm is across the back of my chair, keeping me close to his side, and making it impossible for me to wipe the smile off my face.

When I cover my mouth to a yawn, he rubs my arm. “Ready to go?”

I nod, not bothering to say I can walk myself to the motel. I know he won’t let me, especially this late. I don’t think I’ve stayed up past eleven in… Well, a long while, we’ll just say that.

Duke stands with me, helping me with my coat.

Cassidy slides off Butch’s lap. “Oh, thank god. I didn’t want to be the first one to leave.”

“Babe, we could’ve gone whenever you wanted,” Butch says, rising to get their things.

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, well, I didn’t want to be that pregnant.”

“Hey,” I say, and she laughs. “Well, not to sound even more pregnant,” I tease. “Could you show me where the bathroom is?”

Duke wraps an arm around my waist, catching my attention. “We’ll be waiting outside.”

“Okay.” I sigh as butterflies take flight at the way he’s gazing down at me.

Should I? I mean, could we…

Cassidy waves me to follow her lead as we head for the ladies’ room. I use the stall first. “Sooo, what do you think of Duke?” she asks through the door.

“What do you mean?”

“Um, hello,” she says in a duh tone. “He’s all over you. And the way y’all were dancing… I mean, come on. I don’t know if you’re looking for anything, unless you are…” she trails off, waiting for me to fill in the blank.

“I’m not looking for anything,” I say, and even to my ears, it sounds like a lie. Evan wasn’t the best boyfriend—he had a whole other life, after all. I’ve never been with a guy like Duke before. He’s…great. Knowing my luck, I’d ruin it and end up hurting us both. “I’m only here temporarily.”

Cassidy huffs, going into the stall when I exit to wash my hands. “What, um, about the baby’s father?”

“He’s not in the picture.” The simple, true-ish, straight-to-the-point answer saddens my mood. When Duke asks you, are you going to feed him another half-truth, too? My stomach plummets.

What would he think of me if he knew the truth?

Homewrecker, the word echoes in my mind in the same tone my father shouted at me the last time I saw my parents.

Cassidy comes out of the stall, catching my eye in the mirror. “I’m sorry.”

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